History: Canada and Jean Augustine

history: Jean Augustine, according to NOW Magazine. While the commemoration of Black History Month dates back to 1926 in the U.S. and unofficially in Canada shortly thereafter, it was only in December 1995 that the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada, following a motion introduced by Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to federal Parliament. Here are 11 things to know about Black history in Canada. In 1790, a statute effectively allowed settlers to bring enslaved persons to Upper Canada. Slavery was officially abolished throughout the British colonies on August 1, 1834. But, by 1793, an anti-slavery bill passed in Upper Canada, although it was not a complete ban. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.